State Water Project

On May 5, 1966, Rosedale entered into a water supply contract with the Kern County Water Agency for 34,900 acre-feet of water from the State Water Project (SWP). Of the 34,900 acre-feet of water, 29,900 is considered “Firm” and the remaining 5,000 acre-feet is considered “surplus”. The amount of water delivered to Rosedale from the State Water Project (“SWP”) has been significantly diminished as a result of environmental and legal restrictions on pumping water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (“Delta”). As a result, this water supply has been reduced to a long-term average of approximately 60% of the contracted amount. Rosedale, like other SWP contractors, is obligated to pay for its full contract supply, regardless of the quantity of water received. This is a significant financial burden upon all SWP contractors.

To have a means for transporting SWP water to Rosedale from the California Aqueduct, Rosedale participated in the construction of the 21-mile long Cross Valley Canal (CVC). Upon reaching Rosedale, the water supplies are delivered directly to recharge areas for direct replenishment of the underlying groundwater aquifer or to landowners within Rosedale who had access to turnouts on the Goose Lake Slough for direct delivery. Direct delivery to landowners results in less water being pumped and is considered “in-lieu” recharge. Rosedale has very limited in-lieu recharge capability and relies almost exclusively upon direct recharge.

The SWP supplies make up approximately 25% of the District’s water supply portfolio.

Kern River

Subsequent to the formation of the District, a water supply contract was negotiated and entered into with the owners of interest in the waters of the Kern River under an agreement dated August 31, 1961 (“Kern River Agreement”). Today this owner of interest is the City of Bakersfield. Under the Kern River Agreement, Rosedale owns contractual rights to 10,000 acre-feet annually, provided that the use of the Kern River water is on property within Rosedale. The term of the Kern River Agreement is in perpetuity, until both parties agree to terminate. The yield of the right varies with hydrology on the Kern River, with more water available to Rosedale in wetter years.

The other major contractual source of Kern River available to Rosedale is water purchased from the City of Bakersfield (the “City”). Rosedale entered into a contract with the City on June 6, 1976, whereby the City agreed to sell up to one-third of its Miscellaneous Quantity Water (basically comprised of surplus Kern River water not needed by the City to satisfy its other obligations) for 35 years.

The combination of the contract and Miscellaneous supplies make up approximately 17% of the District’s water supply portfolio.

OTHER SUPPLIES

Because the SWP and City of Bakersfield contract supplies are insufficient to supply the District’s demands other sources are routinely acquired. These include: temporary contracts with the Bureau of Reclamation for Friant-Kern floodwaters, Kern River flood flows, spot-market water purchases, beneficial rainfall, and the groundwater basin safe-yield. These supplies make up approximately 44% of the District’s water supply portfolio.